"I shall not get silver ones this year," she had decreed; "but as we
have the die, the cost of metal ones will be comparatively trifling.
Mrs. Boswell is very kindly giving the form trophy, and Mrs. Gordon the
prize for the bicycle race. Miss Aubrey, the mistresses, and myself wish
to pay for the medals amongst us, and the shillings which you girls
usually subscribe can be sent either to the National Relief Fund or to
the Belgian Fund, whichever you choose."
This arrangement satisfied even the most patriotic conscience. All had
felt that the Sports would not be complete without medals, though they
were heroically prepared to make the sacrifice. The Athletic Prize
badges were coveted distinctions at Aireyholme, and were treasured by
their winners almost above the books generally awarded for successes in
form examinations. This summer the medals would be specially attractive,
for they would seem almost like military decorations. Each girl was
wearing her form rosette--the Sixth pink, the Fifth green, and the
Fourth blue; the monitresses in addition had white favours, and the
members of the Games Committee, whose duty it was to keep order and
marshal the competitors, wore a "C" embroidered on a mauve ribbon.
The first event was the junior plain race. The fifteen members of Form
IV started with great enthusiasm, and tore over the ground as rapidly as
their respective running powers permitted. Big Hebe Bennett, Bertha
Grant--also fat and scant of breath--and Myrtle Goodwin were soon
distanced by their more agile companions. Yvonne and Mélanie made a
gallant struggle, but fell behind, and after an exciting heat between
Garnet Adams and Gwendolen Jackson, ended by Nora Parnell making a
sudden spurt and beating them both.
In the higher forms Megan Owen and Ellaline Dickens proved the
Atalantas. Megan, though short and stoutly built, was remarkably
swift-footed, and Ellaline, tall and willowy, covered the ground at a
swinging pace that distanced even Dorrie Vernon, the crack champion of
the Sixth. Dorrie redeemed her character, however, in the next event;
her record in the long jump was the highest ever known at Aireyholme, it
evoked loud cheers, and she retired with the satisfaction of knowing
that her feat would be duly entered in the athletic minutes of the
school. The high jump came next on the programme; juniors led the way
and showed much agility. For several rounds ten of them cleared the bar;
but the next trial proved fatal to seven, leaving only Novie, Myrtle,
and Githa on the field. It was a hard contest between these three. They
were very evenly matched; Novie was the tallest, but Githa had the best
springing power, and came off victor in the end.
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
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